---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Bankstown occupation victory! By Kylie Moon BANKSTOWN -- A major victory has been won by the students at the University of Western Sydney-Macarthur's (UWSM) Bankstown campus, a result of a 14-day long occupation of the Student Information Centre which ended on November 10. The occupation forced the UWSM acting vice-chancellor, David Barr, to agree to more than 30 demands. The occupation continued to receive media exposure and the active support of many students right up until its final days, despite taking place during exam time. The university administration made the impact of the occupation clear on November 9 by sending a letter to all UWSM students claiming the students had rejected many of the offers made by Barr. This was clearly an attempt to demonise the occupation and justify an attack on the student occupiers. Instead, the letter gave the occupation a massive amount of publicity, and many students phoned the Bankstown student association to give their support. The occupiers put up posters, asking why the university was prepared to spend thousands of dollars on a mail-out about the occupation, when they rarely send out letters for important information like exam results. A meeting between occupation representatives and Barr was held on the night of November 9, and a final agreement was signed on November 10. The agreement committed the university administration to complying with the students' demands and committed the students to calling off a National Union of Students Day of Action for November 10 (to be held at the UWSM's Campbelltown campus) and to closing down the occupation web site. A joint media release was issued by the Bankstown Student Association and UWSM administration. The occupation succeeded in more than the number of demands won. Through the occupation there's been a huge increase in the number of students activated through lecture-bashing, leafleting and media work. During the 14 days of the occupation, four rallies were held, each attracting 150-200 students. These numbers are significant, considering that Bankstown is a small campus of 3000, many of whom are part-time students. The publicity stunts, the banners on the road nearby, the chalk-ups of the slogan "students are in control!", the huge public education coffin, the massive and constant media work, the production of different leaflets and stickers, the songs and poetry that have been inspired by the occupation, are all the signs of a campaign that has gone way beyond involving the "core activists" on campus. Trade union and community solidarity was a boost to occupiers. Support came from the National Tertiary Education Industry Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Services Union, the Ethnic Communities Council, the Indonesian National Students League for Democracy (LMND), the Greens, the Red Umbrella group, the National Liaison Committee for international students, Resistance and even a local Charcoal Chicken shop (which donated food and faxed a message saying they supported the occupation because they hope their children can get a decent education). The NSW Labor Council invited some of the occupiers to a meeting and contacted media outlets in support of the occupation. The LMND sent greetings of solidarity, saying, "We hope that this kind of action will spread throughout the country, and may the new world revolution start from Australia!" The greetings were well received by the occupation and inspired stickers reading "The revolution begins in Bankstown!" The respect and solidarity from staff on campus were very good. They donated money and food, didn't penalise students for being involved in the occupation and held a number of classes on the floor outside the occupation. The "log of claims" campaign, placing a broad range of demands on UWSM administration, was very effective. It both ensured that the demands were connected with the biggest student concerns and drew together a broad range of students, including international students, policing students, students with disabilities and many others. Throughout, there was heavy emphasis on the occupation belonging to all the students involved, and on developing a commitment to and understanding of collective organising. Meetings were held throughout the occupation to discuss and plan each stage of our campaign against the administration. As a result of the tactics and strategy being largely discussed and planned by the collective, rather than by only the most experienced activists, the occupation was very empowering for everyone involved. The occupation was open to people coming and going, which allowed students who worked part time, or had children or other commitments, to participate in a major way. It also meant that people could join the occupation at any point. The success of the occupation has put UWSM students in strong position for next year, and given all UWS students a good example of how to fight and win. The next big challenge for UWS students is a restructuring proposal -- Agenda 2000. This is an attempt to merge all of UWS member campuses (Macarthur, Nepean and Hawkesbury) into one university, and transform the separate member campuses into faculties. Through this process the university administration is likely to attempt to cut staff and close "less efficient" courses and courses that are duplicated across the university. [Kylie Moon is the Western Sydney Resistance organiser.] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 25 Nov 1999 jam 10:07:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
